Shoe-cleaning device.



T. M. HOW-ELL. v SHOE CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31]914- Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

THOMAS 1V". HOWELL, OF MANCHESTER, NEXV HAMPSHIRE.

SHOE-CLEANING DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Eatent.

Fatented Mar. 1%, 1 918.

Application filed January 31, 1914;. Serial No. 315,792.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Gleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe cleaning devices and more particularly to combined shoe brushes and scrapers. v

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for simultaneously scraping and brushing shoes while on the foot of the wearer.

The invention also comprehends the provision of novel means for constructing the casing of the device so that the movable platform upon which the operating parts are mounted will act as a closure for the casing, means being provided for limiting the upward movement of the platform so as to normally maintain the casing in closed condition.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawmg, which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.

Referring more particularly to the draw- 1 represents a casing provided with an inclined upper edge which is flanged at 2 so to retain the platform 3 against displacemat by the elevating springs 4. These springs a normally tend to hold the platform 3 against the flange 2 and the mechanism thereof in position to receive the foot, the platform in its normal position serving as a closure for the casing.

Mounted upon the platform and extending transversely thereacross is a scraper 5 and located upon opposite sides of the scraper are brushes 6 carried by the shafts 7 mounted in bearings on the platform and Gopies of this patent may be obtained for 13 mounted on the casing so that upon de pression of the platform by pressure of the foot upon the scraper the shaft 10 will be caused to rotate and through this shaft the brushes will be rotated and will brush the dirt from the shoes. The pinions are maintained in contact with the rack bars by means of a guiding strip li, as shown. The

scraper 5 is of a substantially lJ-shaped configuration and is secured to the platform 3 at a point below the drive shaft 10 and has its limb portions disposed in parallelism with the brushes 6, and, of course, it is to be understood that when it is desired to use the machine, the foot is placed upon the scraper 5 at right angles with the brushes 6, whereby the entire shoe will be readily and easily cleansed upon the exertion of pressure upon the plat-form 3.

What i claimed is A shoe cleaning device embodying a rectangular casing open at the top, a platform mounted for free movement within said cas-v ing, resilient means for normally supporting said platform in position to form a closure for the casing, means located at each end of said casing for limiting the upward movement of the platform, rotatable cleaning elements carried by said platform and means also carried by the platform and cooperating with means secured to the casing for rotating the cleaning elements.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. HOWELL.

Witnesses JAMns A. BRODERICK, TIMOTHY M. SHEEHAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

